After drawing 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg, Arsenal travel to two-time Europa League champions Atletico Madrid, who are unbeaten at home in 12 games in all competitions.
Sime Vrsaljko’s tenth-minute sending off gave the 'Gunners' (ARS) a one-man advantage in the first leg. But, Antoine Griezmann's 82nd-minute away goal nullified Alexandre Lacazette’s 60th-minute header to leave Arsene Wenger with a 31.25% win ratio over Spanish opposition.
A 2-1 away defeat to Manchester United in the Premiership finally ended Arsenal's top-four Champions League (CL) qualification hopes. Now they face a side who have not seen a home goal conceded in over 1,000 hours of football since January. Arsenal, however, have only failed to score in four of their last 22 away games this season (W7, D5, L10) in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has seen just two home losses this season in all competitions - a 2-1 home loss in the Copa del Rey to Sevilla, and a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea in the Champions League. They have a 37.5% win rate over English teams within European competition (W9, D10, L5) and have won 58% of their 115 games in the EL and it’s UEFA Cup forerunner.
With Arsene Wenger set to end his long Arsenal career at the season end, the players are desperate to claim the club’s third European trophy for the manager (and CL qualification), but maybe lost the opportunity in the first leg against ten-man Atleti.
Players to watch: Antoine Griezmann has contributed four goals and one assist for Atletico in the EL this season, including one last time out against the Gunners.
Aaron Ramsey could be the man to ignite Arsenal's bid for a final berth. The Welshman has scored four times, including laying on another goal in his five EL appearances this season.
Stat attack: There have been under two goals scored in Atletico's last three matches in the EL.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five games in the EL.
These teams have only met once before this tie - a 2-1 Arsenal win in the Emirates Cup.
Potential Atletico Madrid starting XI:
Oblak; Hernandez, Godin, Jiminez, Savic; Koke, Correa, Partey; Gameiro, Griezmann, Costa.
Potential Arsenal starting XI:
Ospina; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal; Xhaka, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Mkhitaryan; Lacazette.
Atletico Madrid are favourites to win at home with bet356 offering odds of 3/4 on Simeone's men. Arsenal are considered 15/4 bets to win in Spain and a draw is available at 11/4.
Match preview:
Arsenal were left reeling when a defensive error by Laurent Koscielny allowed his compatriot Antoine Griezmann to nab an away goal last week in north London, particularly considering the fact that they played the majority of the game against 10 men.
Their task in the second leg has now become more difficult, with Atletico boosted by the return to fitness of Costa - so often the bane of the Gunners defence during his time at Chelsea - and they will have to remain patient if they wish to break down the Liga outfit.
With Wenger standing down after more than two decades at the helm at the end of the season the Frenchman is desperate to bring his "love story" to a fitting conclusion by winning the competition, which would see him deliver the Gunners back into the Champions League.
And, in order to do that he will need the likes of Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil on the top of their games in Madrid, while Koscielny and co. will have to remain fully focused on containing the threat posed by Atleti's potent strike partners Griezmann and Costa.
Indeed, with a place in the final and Champions League qualification at stake, this game could well be the defining match of what has been a disappointing campaign to date for Arsenal, so they should need no more inspiration to get the job done.
